los angeles art deco tour

Free Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour of the Amazing Art Deco Streets

So many people only think of California as a state of beautiful beaches and equally as beautiful people. People rarely associate architecture with Los Angeles, but L.A.’s historic downtown district is full of some of the most incredible buildings in the U.S. Compared to cities like Rome or even New York, L.A.’s historic core is one of the least frequented parts of the city. And perhaps that is because so few people even know it is here. After the economic decline in the 1960s, downtown suffered a sizeable financial recession that lasted for decades, and it is now seeing a new cultural renaissance.

Angel’s Flight

Start your walking tour at the ‘Angel’s Flight’ steps on Bunker Hill. This funicular railway brings travellers up the hill to one of the most iconic landmarks in L.A., Most notable for the many scenes filmed for the movie 500 Days of Summer .

The funicular was nicknamed “the shortest railway in the world” when it was built in 1901, and ever since, it has brought passengers a mere few meters up the steep hill from Pershing Square Metro Station to the top of Bunker Hill. From there, you have the perfect vantage point to see the tops of all the famous buildings that decorate the Los Angeles skyline.

Grand Central Market

After a short walk down from the top of Bunker Hill, stop at the Grand Central Market. The original building was a Beaux Arts beauty, but over the years, modern renovations have since changed its appearance. When you visit the market, make a point to study the 1960s tile façade and the original large, rounded archways at the entrance.

This little market, full of smells, sights and sounds, has been open since 1917. The market was once a meeting place for the city’s rich and the poor, and you could find everything from clothes to cabbage to goods for the home. Today, it is filled with delicious food for the everyman. As you step down the stairs in the thick of things, your senses are engulfed in the smell of slow-roasting pork, crispy tortillas and hot spices. Stop in at G&B Coffee for a dark brew, or try one of their fizzy hoppy teas for something different. Chow down on gorditas and drool-worthy tacos at Ana Maria’s . And if you’re looking for a trendy Sunday morning brunch spot, try Eggslut for their signature Eggslut sandwich, a jar-poached “coddled” egg atop potato purée.

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Bradbury Building

The Bradbury Building is one of the most important architectural landmarks of the city. And while its exterior is gorgeous, it’s the interior you’ll want to ensure you see! Built in 1893, this office building is best known for the incredible skylit atrium, surrounded by gilded, ornate ironwork walkways, stairs and elevators. The building was made for gold-mining millionaire Lewis L. Bradbury and, as such, feels like it has been kissed by King Midas himself.

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Alexandria Hotel

Wind your way toward the famous Alexandria Hotel . In the heyday of cinema-making of the 1900s, this monolith of Beaux-Arts architecture and glamour was built. It cost $2 million to bring the lavish designs and finishing that the New York elite was used to across the country to sunny L.A. The building’s signature griffins still stand today, looming over the street, watching passersby going about their business.

Over the years, it saw visitors from all walks of fame. From President Theodore Roosevelt to Charlie Chaplin and even Mary Pickford . But as the celebs moved out of the downtown core, the hotel lost its lustre and soon was nothing more than squatting quarters for vagrants. Now, it has a new owner, and with fresh businesses coming back downtown, it might even see a new renaissance. Its illustrious Palm Court, built in the 1960s, is still one of the most awe-inspiring interiors in L.A. The ceiling is an enormous mass of intricately designed stained glass and walking in the room, you completely feel embraced by the beautiful coloured scene painted with glass above you.

Broadway-Spring Arcade Building

As you walk down South Spring Street, you come upon a giant slate-coloured building with tiny, uniform windows that cover its facade. Looking like a massive brick honeycomb. This is, of course, the Broadway-Spring Arcade Building . The building is connected by a stunning skylit and a three-storey arcade.

Walking through the arches, you’re met with a splendid gallery of little, independent shops gathered below retro lights that line the gallery like little soldiers. Later on, after its initial construction, two Venetian-style bridges were added to connect the lower levels of the two buildings, creating a very European feel to space.

Ninth and Broadway Building

Just down the street, you find the Ninth and Broadway Building . Built in the 1930s, this sturdy building is a dramatic design and architecture. The most iconic detail is the two-storey tall terra cotta grapevine filigree that crawls up the front of the building. The art deco lettering that addresses the building is a charming nod to a time gone by.

But the ornamentation doesn’t stop at the front of the building. As you look up at the myriad of floors above, you’ll notice the filigree grapevine designs continuing between all the perfectly placed windows, each stamped with an abstract art deco geometric design.

The Jewelry District

The Jewelry District is a section of downtown Los Angeles where gold, diamonds and anything sparkly can be seen on display in highly curated window boxes. As you walk down the street, it seems like every other shop is a jewelry store with identical window displays and signage. Annually this district brings in just under $3 billion in jewelry alone!

The most famous of these Jewellery retail outlets is the International Jewelry Centre . This building reminds me of the train station in Melbourne, with its enormous domed roof and French Renaissance-inspired ornamentation that climbs along the columns and frames the windows.

Head over to the financial district and visit the PacMutual building. A set of three different buildings have been connected over the years and now make up the place we call the PacMutual building. Each structure represents a different period of architecture, yet they all seem to flow together cohesively. The first building erected in 1906 was on the corner of Sixth and Olive Street. It was designed in the Beaux Arts style with decorative arches and flowery details.

In 1921, a taller building was constructed the same way as the previous one. With more money in their pockets this time, they added Italian marble throughout the lobby and more terra cotta embellishments. The final building in this triad is a seemingly simple two-story parking garage. Where the addition of a parking lot might have been an eye sore, this architect took it upon himself to disguise it in Beaux Arts flourishes and a glamorous tiled roof.

Los Angeles Library

The last stop on tour was at the impressive Los Angeles Library . A stop-off at the library might seem like an anti-climactic visit, but it is not the case here in L.A. The library was officially named a Historic-Cultural Monument, and its importance as a place for the community is firmly evident as you walk around and watch people interact with the public space. People wander the gardens and sit quietly reading or talking on the phone on all the different benches and seating areas in the courtyard. It seems almost like a modern-day town square.

The library’s design is not of the Art Deco period or the Beaux Arts. This time, the architect went far back to get his inspiration. All the way to ancient Egypt. Egyptians were some of the finest architects. But they were a culture that respected and sought to preserve their language and historical stories.

Although not in a typical “library”, they preserved their stores right in the walls of their home in hieroglyphs. So it is no surprise that this is where the architect drew his inspiration for the library. The central part of the library looks like a squared-off pyramid with brightly coloured tiled mosaics on the roof. The suns on either side of the roof reference the “light of learning.” Along the facade are carved notable men of history. We have represented men from the arts, Science, Philosophy and more here.

Fine Arts Building

The Fine Arts Building on West 7th Street was built in 1926 and is a love story of architecture. The Romanesque Revival face featured a two-storey arch over the main entrance, intricately decorated with griffons, gargoyles and birds. The entire building is replete with ornamentation and carved figures, to the point where it feels almost more like a church than an office building. On either side of the entry arch are two reclining figures, representing Architecture and Sculpture as human beings. Be sure to step inside and admire the two-storey terracotta and tile-tiered ceiling.

Theatre District

As you finish with the business district, you turn a corner, and suddenly every other building you come across is an opulent theatre. This, of course, is the Theatre District . These gaudy and gorgeous edifices are aged to pure perfection. Their slightly tarnished and dirty facade only adds to the magical historical quality they preserve within their bones.

The Los Angeles Theatre

The Los Angeles Theatre is no doubt the most extravagant of them all. Designed by legendary theatre architect S. Charles Lee in 1931, this building stretches into the skies with European-inspired designs that make you feel like you have been transported into Paris, France. The baroque columns and sculptures that pour off the building reek of French finery. Even a sunburst motif is used throughout, inspired by Louis XIV’s castle of Versailles.

The Palace Theatre

The Palace Theatre is one of the oldest on the strip. It opened in 1911 and is one of the remaining original Orpheum theatres in the U.S. This building seems as though any minute, swarms of youthful flappers in sequined gowns might emerge from its doors. Perfectly preserved in time, you can even read the old painted advertisements still etched onto the side of the building. One can imagine that these ads would entice customers to attend the shows featuring such acts as Harry Houdini, Fred Astaire , and a young Rita Hayworth .

The mixture of Florentine architecture and retro 70’s typography, and colourful flare are wonderfully combined on the front of this theatre. Multicoloured terracotta flowers are stamped on the sides of the window frames, while gothic fairy sculptures hang off the building like whimsical gargoyles. Even the old lamps still glow and are reflected on the wet streets.

Tower Theatre

Built in 1927, the Tower Theatre is a testament to the evocative Baroque Revival style. The theatre’s exterior was even modelled after the famed Paris Opera House. Tiny star-shaped geometric designs are carved into the building’s walls, making the whole thing seem like it is floating in space. One of the Tower Theatre’s most iconic features is its giant Art Nouveau clock tower that reaches into the sky, flanked by gilded columns and framing the neon sign that flashes its name to curious passersby.

Eastern Columbia Lofts

Probably the piece-de-resistance of the entirety of downtown L.A. is the Eastern Columbia Lofts. From all the way down the street, you can see the bright, turquoise copper gleaming in the distance. On top, a giant clock and the word ‘EASTERN’ all in neon beacons you towards it. The Eastern Columbia Lofts is one of the best examples of true Art Deco architecture in the United States. Featuring all the keystones of Art Deco design, this building seems cohesive while incorporating various elements from that period. From sunburst patterns to zigzags and chevrons to simple geometric shapes and turquoise copper panels flanked in gold, every piece feels like it complements the other.

Although the building has been standing for years, its appeal is timeless. The developer, Kor Realty Group, optioned this property for condo development in 2006 and has since turned empty retail and business spaces into chic, modern condos while retaining their original appearance. One of the more curious features is the four modernized flying buttresses that flank the clock tower on the top of the building. This style, once only found in gothic architecture, was appropriated to great effect.

If you’re looking for true gothic architecture, go beyond the Ace Hotel . Originally known as the United Artists building , at 13 stories tall, it was the tallest building in Los Angeles after its completion in 1927. The building houses residential apartments and a theatre on the first floor. The terra cotta and plaster-fronted structure were dripping with Gothic influences from Spain and were inspired by the Segovia Cathedral . Its delicate tracery windows pointed arches, and highly detailed carved capitals make this building look more like a church than a commercial space. The stone spandrels that line the facade give the building the appearance of being taller than it really is, lifting its grandeur right up into the sky.

Taking a free walking tour of the Art Deco streets of downtown Los Angeles is a must-do experience for anyone who loves architecture and history. From the stunning facades to the intricate details, these buildings are a testament to the city’s rich cultural heritage.

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10 awe-inspiring Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles

Be dazzled by these architectural gems

The architectural diversity of Los Angeles is vast, pulling in styles from Craftsman to Googie and from midcentury modern to Victorian . It’s no surprise then that the area holds a crop of amazing Art Deco buildings.

Art Deco, which is usually associated with the 1920s and ’30s, is recognizable by its use of geometric and zigzag patterns, bold colors, and clean lines. In Downtown Los Angeles alone, there are a handful of statement buildings featuring these types of dazzling details inside and out: the Eastern Columbia, the Oviatt Building, the Central Library.

But the finest examples of Art Deco in LA are not confined to Downtown. As this map shows, the architecture can be found from Hollywood to San Pedro .

Bay Cities Guaranty Building

Completed in 1930 and designed by the firm Walker and Eisen, the 12-story Bay Cities Guaranty building was the tallest building in Santa Monica for more than 40 years, according to the Santa Monica Conservancy . The clock at the top of the tower rises four stories high and is covered in terra cotta tiles.

The Bay Cities Guaranty and Loan Association was the big bank in town during the 1920s and “helped to finance the vast boom in real estate development that came with dramatic population growth during that decade,” according to the Santa Monica Conservancy. The 1929 stock market crash ended all that.

Known locally as the Clock Tower, it now holds offices.

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Selig Commercial Building

A lesser-known Art Deco treasure located on Third Street and Western Avenue, this building began its life as a Selig retail store and was later converted into a Crocker bank. Now it holds a variety of small businesses within its walls. “I've always loved this building,” says Dishman. “It's so striking.”

Clad in black-and-gold, glazed terra cotta, it was built in 1931 for a haberdashery. The architect, Arthur E. Harvey , also designed the Wilshire Professional building and the Santa Monica Professional Building, which is now the city’s first outpost of the boutique Proper Hotel brand.

The Selig building was named a city Historic-Cultural Monument in 1985. According to the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, it is one of only two black-and-gold, glazed terra cotta Art Deco buildings in the city today.

The Wiltern

The Wiltern and the Pellissier office building it’s attached to are covered in an eye-catching blue-green terra cotta tile. Designed by Stiles O. Clements of the firm Morgan, Walls, and Clements, the structure was completed in 1931 as a theater, the Warner Bros. Western Theatre. Now it’s a music venue, but the interior retains its gold-leaf detailing, elaborate murals, and an enormous sunburst on the ceiling of the theater. The interior was designed by the same man that did Downtown’s Palace and Orpheum theaters, G. Albert Lansburgh, according to the LA Conservancy .

The Wiltern is a vital part of LA’s architectural conservation history. The theater was sold in the 1950s, and its sale coincided with the beginning of a period of decline. In 1979, the building was under threat of demolition—the life insurance company that owned it wanted to raze the building and sell the land.

A citizens group and the LA Conservancy (which was founded in 1978) intervened and helped to save the structure. It was purchased by Wayne Ratkovich and his firm, Ratkovich, Bowerts and Perez, which renovated it with the help of architect Brenda Levin. The rehabbed Wiltern reopened in 1985. It’s now operated by LiveNation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Griffith Observatory

Perched high up in Griffith Park, the Observatory is a huge tourist draw for its impressive views and fantastic architecture.

Designed by Los Angeles City Hall architect John C. Austin and architect Frederick Ashley, the Griffith Observatory was completed in 1935. The Deco structure has been called “a mishmash of grand and monument styles.” It features murals in its main foyer “depicting the history of astrology and the mythical heavens” by renowned artist Hugo Ballin.

Griffith Observatory has also been called “probably the most recognizable and beloved building in Los Angeles” by restoration maven Brenda Levin, who, along with architect Stephen Johnson, spearheaded much-needed restoration and expansion of the structure that began in 2002 and ended in 2006.

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Bullocks Wilshire (Southwestern Law School)

Completed in 1929 as a Bullocks department store, the John Parkinson-designed building boasted light fixtures by the famous French glass designer Rene Lalique and fabulous interior artwork.

The department store operated for more than 60 years, and in 1994, Southwestern Law School bought the building, restoring and converting it into an academic building—a project that lasted 10 years and cost $29 million, according to the LA Conservancy .

The result is a really “sensitive” restoration job that didn't change the space very much, and in some cases, reversed changes that had been done to the building to make the space more like it would have been in 1929.

The building is open once a year for tours, so if a chance comes to visit the space, take it. “It’s such a perfect example of Art Deco architecture,” down to its tower—a feature that is very common to Art Deco, says Dishman. In this case, it’s also likely that the tower was a way to “skirt” the then-rule that no buildings in LA could be higher than 12 stories, she adds.

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Warner Grand Theatre

Designed by Pantages Theater architect B. Marcus Priteca, the Warner Grand was completed 1931 and called the Warner Bros. Theatre. Jack Warner of the Warner Brothers film studios called the movie palace the “Castle of our Dreams.”

The Warner Grand represents Art Deco “on a smaller scale,” says Dishman. “It's not as tall as, say, the Wiltern, but it fits into the context of its neighborhood.”

As interior photos demonstrate, there’s also no glamour lost on the smaller, Warner Grand. “[A] glamorous refuge during the dark days of the Great Depression,” according to the LA Conservancy , the interior features a carved wooden ceiling with a sunburst design and fabulous Art Deco tile and lighting fixtures. In 1999, the theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Eastern Columbia Building

This big blue jewel on Broadway is “one of the great, iconic buildings of Los Angeles,” says LA Conservancy president and CEO Linda Dishman.

Designed by one of Art Deco’s leading architects, Claud Beelman, it opened in 1930 as the headquarters of furniture and clothing stores Eastern Outfitting Company and Columbia Outfitting Company, hence the building’s name. The 13-story structure's turquoise terra cotta exterior is accented with blue and gold terra cotta, as well as a whole array of geometric designs—sunbursts, zigzags, chevrons. It also boasts a distinctive clock tower emblazoned with the word “Eastern.”

In 2006, the building underwent a $30-million, award-winning condo conversion. The building has long attracted celebrities such as Johnny Depp, who just this year listed his five penthouses in the building for a total of $12.7 million.

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Los Angeles Central Public Library

The Central Library’s Bertram Goodhue-designed building opened in 1926. The exterior is decorated with limestone sculptures and incorporates a wide range of influences from Byzantine to Egyptian. Atop the building, a tiled pyramid is capped with a torch, “symbolizing the light of knowledge,” according to the LA Conservancy .

Inside, the library features an oft-photographed rotunda, a huge chandelier of a globe, and 12 murals that illustrate California history.

Prolonged threats to demolish the building were part of the reason for the founding of the LA Conservancy in 1978.

The Oviatt Building

This glorious Art Deco and Beaux Arts structure was completed in 1928 for Alexander and Oviatt, “one of the most prestigious and expensive haberdasheries in the city,” according to the LA Conservancy. In addition to space for the shop, the structure included office space and a 10-room penthouse for James Oviatt. The penthouse is now an event venue, and what was the store’s space is Cicada Restaurant.

Originally, the lobby and penthouse were bedecked with glasswork by famed French glass designer Rene Lalique . Sadly, most of that glass is gone—either lost or sold over time, says the Conservancy. (And, the gate in front of the lobby might appear Art Deco, but it’s not original to the building.)

The CalEdison

The CalEdison was built in 1931 as the headquarters of Southern California Edison. The exterior offers a mix of limestone and terra cotta. Inside, “at least” 17 types of marble were used to make the walls and floor. The lobby is also bedecked with coffered ceilings and a mural by artist Hugo Ballin.

The building was purchased in 2015 by Rising Realty Partners, which restored it to its Art Deco greatness, removing interior drop ceilings and carpeting and stripping a 1980s addition of green glass covers over the outside terraces. Pop in and sneak a peek—the magnificent lobby is open to the public .

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Constructed in 1910, the Higgins Building is an early Modernist concrete-framed building designed in the Beaux-Arts style. It was commissioned by Thomas Higgins, an Irish American, as a 10-story building that could be used as office space. He hired architects Albert C. Martin, Sr. and A.L. Haley to handle construction. Although designed as an 8 story high building, it was decided during the construction stage to add two additional floors in order to hold the reputation as being the highest building in the city center.

Angels Flight, located on Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles, enjoys significance for its role as an incline railway and its place within the city's broader transportation, culture, and environmental histories. Because of Bunker Hill's steep eastern slope in the downtown area, a railroad was built to transport people (mainly wealthy) to and from the commercial center. Dubbed "the shortest railway in the world," Angles Flight opened in 1901 as a narrow gauge funicular railway that stretched 298 feet (climbing 96 feet) and supported two rail cars that ran in opposite directions on a shared cable. The entrance archway and the station house are unique structures designed in the Beaux-Arts style. The railway closed in 1969 and then re-opened in 1996, one-half block south of the original location, stretching 300 feet on a thirty-three percent grade. Since 2001, accidents (including injuries and one death) and resultant closures have plagued the historic train, yet it remains popular.

Built in 1930, the Title Guarantee and Trust Company Building is an Art Deco style high rise building situated on Pershing Square. Designed by The Parkinsons, who were prolific architects and were responsible for many L.A. points of interest, including City Hall and Bullocks Wilshire, it was built on the site of the California Club building. Its original use was as an office building but it was later converted into loft apartments. In 1984, the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The building was originally known as the Southern California Edison Company Building and was owned and occupied by a utility company. It was one of the first all-electrically heated and cooled buildings constructed in the western United States. Standing fourteen-stories high, the steel-framed building follows a classically inspired Art Deco design. The lower three stories are of solid limestone, while the upper stories and central tower are faced with buff-colored terra cotta. On the façade, the spandrels contain a cubic Art Deco pattern, repeated in the central tower, lobby floor and elevator ceilings. The exterior greenhouse-like structures were added in the 1980s and the street-level shopping corridor in 1993.

The PacMutual, despite its name, is actually made up of three interconnected structures that were built consecutively over two decades. The first to be constructed was in 1908. It was a six-story Beaux Arts building clad in white terra cotta with four-story Corinthian columnns. In 1921, a twelve-story Beaux Arts building was added. It was much larger than the 1908 building and featured a grand lobby with a barrel-vaulted ceiling and sweeping staircases in Italian Tavernelle marble. The third structure was finished in 1926 and is a two-story parking garage with offices and meeting rooms on the top floor. Today, the PacMutual Building houses a range of tenants such as attorneys and architects as well as the fashion firm Nasty Gal and Los Angeles Conservancy.

On February 2, 1930 it was announced that the soon-to-be constructed Sun Realty Building would continue the trend of local architecture by designing an exterior of colored terra cotta. In this case, the fluted terra cotta provided a beautiful blue-green finish, rising continuously for fourteen stories to the roofline before tapering to a crown of bronze at the top. It was designed by architect Claud Beelman, who is responsible for designing many buildings throughout the city including the Garfield Building, the Ninth and Broadway Building, and the Eastern Columbia Building. At the time of its construction, the lobby was outfitted with a marble floor and decorative plaster ceiling. The building was redesigned in the 1970s, but a few original fittings remain such as the original Art Deco elevator doors. The building is now known as the Los Angeles Jewelry Center.

Constructed in 1909, the Walter P. Story Building was designed in the Beaux Arts style by Major General of the California National Guard Walter Perry Story on a lot purchased by his father in 1895. His father was a successful cattle rancher from Montana and was the first person to drive cattle along the Bozeman Trail from Texas to Montana. The first three stories and the basement of the building were initially designed for retail, and the upscale clothier Mullen and Bluett occupied the space from 1910 through the 1960s. Walter P. Story and his wife lived in the penthouse. Today, the building is home to offices and businesses.

The Orpheum Theatre opened on February 15, 1926, as the fourth Los Angeles venue for the Orpheum vaudeville circuit. The Orpheum's Beaux Arts facade was designed by movie theatre architect G. Albert Lansburgh and has a Wurlitzer organ, that is one of three pipe organs remaining in Southern California venues. The Orpheum theatres are named after the Greek mythological figure, Orpheus. Soon after it was opened, it was a popular venue for burlesque queen Sally Rand, the Marx Brothers, Will Rogers, Judy Garland (singing with her family as Frances "Baby" Gumm) and comedian Jack Benny, as well as jazz greats Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. Today, after a $4 million restoration in 2003, the Orpheum Theatre is a venue for live concerts, movie premieres and location shoots.

The Blackstone Building, which is now known as Blackstone Apartments, was constructed in 1916 and has been listed as a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument since 2003. The Blackstone Department Store Building is one of architect John B. Parkinson's early works, designed in the Beaux Arts style and clad with grey terra cotta. The original Blackstone's, known as Blackstone's Dry Goods, opened in 1895 just down the street from this location. Owner Nathaniel Blackstone hired Parkinson to design this flagship store in 1917. It was sold to the Famous Department Store Company, and renovated by Morgan, Walls & Clements in 1939. In 2010, the Blackstone Building was converted into 82 apartments with ground-floor retail space and an underground parking garage.

Constructed in 1930, the Eastern Columbia Building, now known as the Eastern Columbia Lofts, is a thirteen-story Art Deco building that was designed by Claud Beelman. It cost around $1.25 million to build and it became the headquarters of the Eastern Outfitting Company a chain of furniture and clothing stores founded by Adolph Sieroty and family. The building is an amazing example of Art Deco architecture in the city and it is one of the most photographed structures. An $80 million renovation took place in 2006 and was undertaken by the KOR Group to turn the property into 147 condominiums. The project earned California Construction Magazine's Best Redevelopment in 2007.

Built in the early decades of the 20th century, the date of the Metropolitan Building's construction is unknown. Upon construction, it replaced a two-story, Romanesque Revival style building. Upon completion, it was known as the Mueller Building for its owner, Michail Mueller. Although the Muellers retained ownership of the property, they granted lease interest of the building to various persons or businesses over the years. The Metropolitan Building possess a high artistic value for its use of the Beaux Arts style in a district that contains some of the best examples of commercial architecture. It is thought the building was constructed by local architects, John Parkinson and Edwin Bergstrom, who were in professional partnership together from 1905 to 1915.

This Tour is a Driving or Biking Tour .

Art Deco & Beaux-Arts Architecture in Downtown LA

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Description

This tour stops by a few historic structures demonstrating late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century architectural styles. The art deco and Beaux-Arts styles were popular around the same time Los Angeles was coming into prominence, and as the motion picture industry took off in the city.

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LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour Private Tour

Things to know, categories:, private tour:, transport mode:, what's included:, what's not included:, what makes this tour special.

Begin your tour at the Los Angeles City Hall , an iconic building in the city used in the films industry many times due to its eclectic style;
Head towards the LA Courthouse , an Art Moderne architecture example;
Admire the Bradbury Building , a recognised landmark in LA and one of the oldest surviving Beau-Arts architecture buildings downtown;
Walk to Title Guarantee Building from 1930, a former office building now loft-style apartments which showcase the verticality of Art Deco style;
Explore Pershing Square where your tour guide will tell you about Art Deco and Beaux Art that precedes that period and show an example of a Beaux-Arts building which is the 1925 Biltmore hotel;
Discover the CalEdison building from 1931 on a prominent corner where you might be able to enter to see spectacular types of marble on the floor and columns;
See Los Angeles Central Library from 1926, an example of an early Art Deco style saved from demolition in 1978 by Los Angeles Conservatory;
Pass by PacMutual original from 1908 that resembles a Greek temple which was remodelled in the 1930s to give it an Art Deco look;
Admire the Oviatt Building, with parts built in the Romanesque Revival style and others changed to resemble the Art Deco style after the owner visited the Paris exposition in 1925;
See the Fox Jewelry Plaza, originally called the William Fox Building in the jewellery district of Fox Movie Theatre Company from back East.;
See the Ninth and Broadway building from 1930, an elegant office building where you might see the lobby;
End your tour at the spectacular Eastern Columbia Building with its iconic clock tower and the spectacular greenish terra cotta originally built as a department store, now luxury condominiums one still owned by Johnny Depp.

What you'll see

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Art Deco touring in Downtown LA

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Step 1: Art Deco influenced the design of buildings, furniture, jewellery, fashion, cars, cinemas and everyday objects. Its name is short for Arts Décoratifs and it’s essentially a mish-mash of styles.

Step 2: It’s a post-Cubist movement, which was high luxury at the time and includes, geometric patterns, bright colours and beautiful furniture design from the 1920s. We took this tour by the laconservancy.org team and really enjoyed it.

Step 3: They run all sorts of walking tours monthly so if you can, go check out LA Conservency. This is a taster of what you might expect and some of our added insights into Art Deco and Downtown LA.

Nearby Walks

Downtown wanders & yum street food

by sutchfun

L.A Historic State Park & Art Trail

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The most beautiful Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles

Step back into the ’30s with a visit to these classy structures, the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in L.A.

Photograph: Jakob N. Layman

Of all the Los Angeles architecture styles, none conjure up the sense of starry-eyed luxury like Art Deco. The movement arose in the 1930s, which explains why we associate it so closely with the glamor of the Golden Age of Hollywood .

Though we mainly think of Machine Age metallic finishes, angular geometry and Cubist and Futurist-influenced details, the architectural movement inspired many different interpretations, from “exotic” inflections—think the Chinese Theatre and Egyptian Theatre —to the late-era shift toward Streamline Moderne—like the Coca-Cola Building and Queen Mary .

It seems insane to us now, as we regard many Art Deco structures among the city’s most beautiful buildings , but the style had fallen out of fashion by the end of World War II. Though many structures were stuccoed over or demolished, these examples of the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles remain.

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

The 11 most beautiful Art Deco buildings

Bullocks wilshire.

Things to do

John and Donald Parkinson, 1929

High-end department stores have dwindled, Westlake is no longer the lap of luxury and the copper turret on the Bullocks Wilshire has since tarnished green—but none of that diminishes the elegance of this Art Deco landmark. It was a department store built for the car, and even though its cash registers have been shut for two decades (now it’s a law school), its poise and strong vertical lines still catch motorists’ eyes.

Eastern Columbia Building

Downtown Historic Core

Claud Beelman, 1930 As Broadway continues to bounce back, the Eastern Columbia Building stands as a reminder that the Downtown street has always been beautiful. The stunning Art Deco tower never seemed to make its way into L.A. iconography, but since a major 2004 renovation, it’s become a beloved landmark for Angelenos. The turquoise finish, terra cotta sunburst over the entrance and the blue glow of the clock tower are all headturners.

Griffith Observatory

Science and technology
Griffith Park

John C. Austin, Frederick M. Ashley, 1933 "If all mankind could look through that telescope," declared Griffith J. Griffith, "it would change the world." We think a simple trip to the hilltop scientific sanctuary is enough to do the trick; the dignified building exudes quiet and calm as Los Angeles twinkles below. Inside, a stunning set of Hugo Ballin murals flanks the rotunda’s vaulted ceiling. Back at ground level, the illuminated white building and its trio of copper-clad domes is an inspirational landmark—what other modern metropolis can boast an observatory as a focal point of its skyline?

Oviatt Building and Cicada Club

Downtown Financial District

Walker & Eisen, 1928 The Oviatt Building’s facade may not call as much attention to itself as some other Art Deco structures, but look lower down and you’ll spot easily the glitziest gate and foyer in the city. The ground floor forecourt exudes French flair from its triangular, swirling glass cutouts. Push open its golden doors and you’ll find yourself inside one of the classiest supper clubs in town.

One Bunker Hill

Historic buildings and sites

Allison & Allison, 1931 Though these days it sits in the shadow of the US Bank Tower, the former Southern California Edison Co. headquarters once pushed up against the city’s 13-story height limit. The 1931 structure features multiple setbacks that stack up into a classic, sately appearance, aside from the 1980s addition of greenhouses—which are due to be converted back to open air patios. Make sure to look up toward the reliefs and ceiling of the entrance rotunda, and step inside the lobby to find a majestic mix of different types of marble.

Title Guarantee & Trust Building

John and Donald Parkinson, 1930 This graceful structure from architects John and Donald Parkinson immediately draws the eye upward. Its most distinctive feature is its gothic tower—you’ll have a head-on view from atop Perch —but the details are decidedly deco. Inside, you’ll find a half-dozen historic murals by Hugo Ballin.

Los Angeles Central Library

Literary events

Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, 1926 The city’s main library is worth a look even if you’ve no interest in borrowing books. The exterior is an Egyptian and Mediterranean beauty, topped with a dramatic, tiled pyramid tower and decorated with bas-reliefs. The most stunning features, though, reside in the second floor rotunda, with its deco-meets-arabesque dome, California history mural and globe chandelier.

Los Angeles Jewelry Center

Claud Beelman, 1931 Art Deco buildings washed in a coat of color were once the standard in L.A. But these days, Claud Beelman’s green terra cotta design for the Los Angeles Jewelry Center is one of the few remaining examples. Though many of the deco details have been scrubbed on the inside, the exterior—at least above the ground floor—looks much like it did in 1931.

Pantages Theatre

B. Marcus Priteca, 1930 The only thing more over-the-top than this theater’s big-budget musicals is its Art Deco decor. The former movie palace’s vaulted lobby is lined with gold, silver and bronze statues. You’ll find chevrons and swirls at every turn, but the theater’s absolute stunner is the sharp starburst chandelier that engulfs the auditorium’s ceiling in a golden latticework.

The Wiltern Theatre and Pellissier Building

Rock and indie

Morgan, Walls & Clements with G. Albert Lansburgh, 1931 The Wiltern’s biggest draw is its marquee—or rather the popular music acts whose names fill it each week. The blue-green terra cotta of the adjoining Pellissier Building is a K-town landmark, but its interior earns its reputation as an Art Deco gem. The oval lobby feels as if you’ve stepped inside of a jewelry box, while the ornate auditorium dazzles with its details, namely the sunburst on the ceiling—looking closely and you’ll find that each ray resembles a skyscraper.

The Deco Building

Morgan, Walls & Clements, 1929 Though Morgan, Walls & Clements’ iconic Richfield Oil Tower was demolished in the name of progress, their similarly designed black-and-gold (albeit much smaller) office space still stands. The high contrast facade is the most striking feature, but so too are the deco adornments throughout the building’s interior.

[image] [title]

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Explore hidden architectural gems of downtown LA on a private Los Angeles architecture tour. Get a full introduction to the Art-Deco and Beaux-Arts styles as you admire landmarks like LA’s City Hall, the Bradbury Building and Pershing Square. Your expert guide will take you through the jewelry district and a bit of Santee Alley, and share insider tips. up to 3 hrs 1 or more people

Good To Know

Learn about the Art Deco and Beaux-Arts movement that defined downtown LA's architecture!
Tour is approx. 3 hours.
Appropriate for all ages.
Food, drinks and transportation are not included on this tour.
This is an exclusive guided walking tour, it will be just you, your group and your guide.

Description

Begin your tour at the Los Angeles City Hall, an iconic building in the city used in the films industry many times due to its eclectic style;
Head towards the LA Courthouse, an Art Moderne architecture example;
Admire the Bradbury Building, a recognized landmark in LA and one of the oldest surviving Beau-Arts architecture buildings downtown;
Walk to Title Guarantee Building from 1930, a former office building now loft-style apartments which showcase the verticality of Art Deco style;
Explore Pershing Square where your tour guide will tell you about Art Deco and Beaux Art that precedes that period and show an example of a Beaux-Arts building which is the 1925 Biltmore hotel;
Discover the CalEdison building from 1931 on a prominent corner where you might be able to enter to see spectacular types of marble on the floor and columns;
See Los Angeles Central Library from 1926, an example of an early Art Deco style saved from demolition in 1978 by Los Angeles Conservatory;
Pass by PacMutual original from 1908 that resembles a Greek temple which was remodeled in the 1930s to give it an Art Deco look;
Admire the Oviatt Building, with parts built in the Romanesque Revival style and others changed to resemble the Art Deco style after the owner visited the Paris exposition in 1925;
See the Fox Jewelry Plaza, originally called the William Fox Building in the jewelry district of Fox Movie Theatre Company from back East.;
See the Ninth and Broadway building from 1930, an elegant office building where you might see the lobby;
End your tour at the spectacular Eastern Columbia Building with its iconic clock tower and the spectacular greenish terra cotta originally built as a department store, now luxury condominiums one still owned by Johnny Depp.

LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour Reviews

LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour is located at Travel Curious • Los Angeles City Hall main entrance • Los Angeles , CA 90012

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Frequently Asked Questions about LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour

Where is the meeting point for this travel curious tour.

You will be meeting your guide for LA's Art Deco Architecture tour under the arches of Los Angeles City Hall main entrance, located at 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States. Please be at the location 10-15 minutes prior to your tour.

How long is this Travel Curious tour?

The entire Downtown LA private walking tour is approximately 3 hours.

What is included in the tour package?

The tour includes a local English-speaking guide, and an expertly guided walking tour.

Is transportation included?

Transportation is not included in this Downtown LA Architecture tour.

Is parking provided?

No, but there are multiple parking garages and street parking available near the departure point. One of which is the Union Station West Parking Lots (via Patsaouras Plaza/Metro parking structures at Vignes/Cesar Chavez Streets) which charges according to length of stay, time of the day, and day of the week. Max daily charge is $8 per day.

Are there any age/physical/health/etc. restrictions for this tour?

This tour is suitable for all ages. All guests must be at moderate physical fitness as the majority of the LA Architecture Tour will be spent walking.

What should I bring?

Bring your camera and cash on hand for any other purchases or gratuities (optional).

What should I wear?

Comfortable, casual clothing and comfortable shoes are recommended.

How many people are on a tour?

This tour is 100% exclusive, which means that it will just be you, your group and your guide on the tour.

How does Travel Curious ensure the quality of their guides?

All tour guides currently active go through a vetting process in which they carry out interviews, check previous reviews and employers references if applicable. More importantly, they make sure that these guides provide an excellent experience for the guests.

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Art Deco Buildings Of Los...

The 6 Most Stunning Art Deco Buildings in Los Angeles

The city of Los Angeles has one of the richest architectural histories in the United States. Despite the new development and construction that is constantly threatening these historical landmarks, there remain quite a few Art Deco edifices to see. The following buildings are still standing in Los Angeles as an inspiring reminder of the city’s beautiful Art Deco architecture.

1. The Wiltern (1931)

Movie Theater, Theater, Music Venue

2. The Oviatt Building (1928)

3. Griffith Park Observatory (1935)

Building, Museum, Park, Theater

4. The Warner Grand (1931)

Theatre, Movie Theater, Theater

5. The Park Plaza (1924)

Building, Park

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The Eastern Columbia Building (1930)

Architect: Calud Beelman

Despite only taking nine months to build, there is no shortage of glamour to The Eastern Columbia Building . It’s unmistakable for its turquoise terracotta exterior and lavish ornamentation of sunbursts, chevrons, and zigzags. It’s original intention was for the headquarters of the Eastern Outfitting Company and the Columbia Outfitting Company. At the time, it was the largest building in the United States. Now it is home to luxury lofts, with a pool on the roof underneath as its trademark clocktower. It is the most all encompassing example of the Art Deco style in Los Angeles.

Eastern Columbia Building, 849 S Broadway St, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 213-478-0755 By Hannah D

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This article is all about art deco in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is an incredible city when it comes to architecture. There are many architectural styles represented in the city, including art deco in Los Angeles.

In this article, we cover the history of the architecture style generally as well as specifically in Los Angeles, before diving into some of the best known art deco buildings and homes in Los Angeles, as well as walking tours.

Table of Contents

Art Deco Architecture and History

Art deco art and architecture trace their origins to the Parisian arts décoratifs movement that began during the late 19th century. This new approach combined indigenous motifs and geometric symmetry with a decidedly modern, machine-age sensibility and was quickly adopted in graphic design, visual arts and fashion. But architecture, particularly civic buildings, is where art deco made its most lasting impression.

The heyday of art deco American architecture lasted from 1925 and 1940 and can be viewed as a natural progression between exuberant, asymmetrical Victorian designs and the sleek midcentury modern buildings that followed. The popularity of art deco coincided with the development of innovative materials and techniques that enabled buildings to stretch ever higher, which is why so many of the most famous early skyscrapers employ deco styling, including New York City’s Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center and Empire State Building.

While art deco artisans embraced originality and sleek surfaces like reinforced concrete, plate glass and sheet metal, the style also borrows heavily from patterns found throughout Native American, Mayan, Aztec and Egyptian art, as well as from classical architecture, futurism and cubism. Following the Great Depression, art deco architecture became more simplified, emphasizing verticality, straight lines and curves, all inspired by industrial machinery and massive ocean liners.

Art deco architecture is often classified into three distinct movements:

Zigzag Moderne: This eclectic art deco form relies heavily on highly stylized decorative elements and ornamentation, including chevrons, sunbursts and repetitive geometric patterns. Painted terra cotta, glazed brick and decorative glass incorporate color into façades, while inlaid stone floors and wood veneers line elaborate interiors. The Deco Building and Eastern Columbia Building exemplify zigzag moderne art deco in Los Angeles.
Streamline Moderne: The Great Depression put a damper on zigzag moderne’s extravagances, resulting in a more restrained version of art deco that emphasized machine-made materials and nautical elements, including curves, portholes and railings meant to convey movement. The long-defunct Pan-Pacific Auditorium and The Mauretania apartments are excellent examples of streamline moderne art deco in Los Angeles.
PWA/WPA Moderne: As the Public Works Administration and Works Progress Administration were formed to provide employment and boost morale during World War II, a new, heroic form of deco architecture emerged. This stripped-down style is frequently found in the public buildings, bridges and schools of this period. Ornate ornamentation is nearly absent, with classical elements, symmetry and scale providing a distinctly monumental feel. City Hall beautifully represents this so-called “depression moderne” style of art deco in Los Angeles.

Art Deco in Los Angeles

The rise of art deco in Los Angeles coincided with the city’s boom era of the 1920s and 1930s. While the city’s population barely topped 100,000 at the turn of the century, it reached a whopping one million by 1924. From oil strikes generating millions of gallons of black gold per week to the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood, Los Angeles was the place to be in this heady period between World Wars.

The most prominent designers of art deco architecture in Los Angeles at the time were the father-and-son team of John and Donald Parkinson, who built dozens of LA’s most important buildings. Claud Beelman designed several art deco beauties, including the breathtaking Eastern Columbia, while the firm of Morgan, Walls & Clements was responsible for a number of deco-inspired theaters and buildings, including The Wiltern and the aptly named Deco Building.

Art Deco Buildings in Los Angeles

While there are dozens of extant art deco buildings in Los Angeles, these examples stand out in terms of grandeur, prominence and preservation.

Bullocks Wilshire

Designed by John and Donald Parkinson in 1929, Bullocks Wilshire boasts exquisite art deco features, including a stunning zigzag moderne façade and a patinaed copper tower. When it first opened, the luxury department store catered to an upscale clientele with a recently acquired fondness for arriving by personal automobile. They were greeted by a handsome porte-cochère entrance and interiors filled with handcrafted stone and wood finishes and exquisite light fixtures by René Lalique, a darling of the Parisian art deco scene. Over 60 years later, neighboring Southwestern Law School purchased the beleaguered store and undertook a painstaking $29 million restoration featuring meticulously restored sections of the original store. Hear what it was like to work in this retail destination from former employee Angela Lansbury .

3050 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/bullocks-wilshire-southwestern-law-school

The Deco Building

This diminutive two-story art deco building in Los Angeles makes an outsized impact with its spectacular black and gold terra-cotta façade and exquisite zigzag moderne interiors. Designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements in 1929, The Deco Building now serves as a creative co-working and community space catering to Indonesian-American businesses.

5207-9 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/deco-building

Eastern Columbia Building

One of the most breathtaking art deco buildings in Los Angeles, the Eastern Columbia shimmers in the California sun thanks to a spectacular façade of turquoise terra-cotta with copper and gold leaf accents. Sunbursts, chevrons and a clock tower wrapped in buttresses underscore its zigzag moderne design. Created by Claud Beelman in 1930, Eastern Columbia underwent an award-winning luxury condominium conversion in 2006. For an up-close look of the interiors and exteriors, watch Huell Howser’s tour of the magnificent building.

849 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/eastern-columbia-lofts

Griffith Observatory

Perched high above the city, the Griffith Observatory is one of Los Angeles’ most well-known and beloved landmarks. Construction began on the observatory in 1933 as a WPA project making it an ideal example of Depression-era art deco in Los Angeles, from its cast-in-place concrete walls to its distinctive domes.

2800 East Observatory Rd., Los Angeles

https://griffithobservatory.org/

Los Angeles Central Library

The Central Library in Downtown Los Angeles beautifully illustrates the restrained and ornamental aspects of the art deco movement. The original Goodhue building opened in 1926, boasts a monumental simplicity ideal for highlighting the extensive sculptural and decorative program. The interiors and the pyramidal tower include colorful tilework in sunbursts and geometric patterns that define art deco. In the 1970s, the planned demolition of the library led to the formation of the Los Angeles Conservancy, which saved the admired site and has now become the largest architectural preservation nonprofit in the country.

630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/los-angeles-central-library

Los Angeles City Hall

One of the architects of City Hall, John C. Austin, described the monumental building as “Modern American,” but the building’s classic inspiration, ziggurat shape and geometric motifs make it an excellent example of art deco architecture in Los Angeles. Fun fact: The building employs concrete containing sand from all 58 California counties and water from all 21 missions.

200 N. Spring St., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/los-angeles-city-hall

The Oviatt Building

The Oviatt Building is widely considered the first art deco building in Los Angeles. It served as the headquarters of Alexander & Oviatt, one of the country’s most prominent haberdasheries, and was topped by owner James Oviatt’s sprawling penthouse, known as a second home to many of Hollywood’s Golden Age stars. Charmed by the newly emerging art deco style, Oviatt filled the building with stunning ornamentation and extensive Lalique glasswork and lighting. Today, The Oviatt houses the beautifully restored Cicada Club restaurant and lounge, while the penthouse is used for film shoots and events.

617 S. Olive St., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/oviatt-building

Sunset Tower

Constructed as a luxury apartment house in 1929, Sunset Tower is often considered one of the finest art deco buildings in Los Angeles thanks to its beautiful streamline moderne and zigzag styling. Advertised as “Hollywood’s Most Distinguished Address,” Sunset Tower has been home to Howard Hughes, Frank Sinatra, John Wayne, Truman Capote, Mae West and Iggy Pop over the years, and the legendary Tower Bar remains a place to see and be seen. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a 1988 restoration and conversion to a first-class hotel earned an award from the LA Conservancy.

8358 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, CA

https://www.sunsettowerhotel.com/

Title Guarantee Building

Designed by the Parkinsons in 1930, the Title Guarantee Building takes inspiration from Chicago Tribune Tower by creating an art deco version of that building’s gothic tower, including stylized flying buttresses and gargoyle-like downspouts. The terra-cotta and granite structure starred as the exterior of Lou Grant’s newspaper offices in the TV show of the same name. Today, it is a residential loft building.

411 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles, CA

http://tglofts.com/

The Wiltern & Pellissier Building

With a stunning blue-green terra-cotta façade and a commanding position at the corner of Wilshire and Western, The Wiltern is one of the most recognizable art deco buildings in Los Angeles. Designed by Morgan, Walls & Clements in 1931, the theater features zigzag styling and powerful verticality outside and a wealth of stylized décor and murals inside. It’s no surprise it’s been called a “dictionary of Art Deco style” by theatre historian and founding LA Conservancy board member John Miller.

3780 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/wiltern-and-pellissier-building

Art Deco Homes in Los Angeles

Art deco architecture thrived when most Americans were grappling with the aftermath of WWI and the ensuing Great Depression. It’s one reason the grand architectural form is far more common in commercial buildings and public spaces than in private residences. That said, a handful of beautiful art deco homes in Los Angeles exist.

The Mauretania

Located in desirable Hancock Park, The Mauretania exemplifies streamline moderne’s nautical influence with its robust curves, railings and a moniker taken directly from a Cunard-White Star Line ocean liner. Commissioned in 1934 by actor Jack Haley, best known as the Tin Man in the “Wizard of Oz,” The Mauretania includes 10 apartments, including Haley’s penthouse, where John F. Kennedy once stayed during his presidential run. Today, apartments rarely become available at the gorgeous art deco building owned by Dave Goldstein, known for his collection of beautifully restored historic apartment houses.

520-522 N. Rossmore Ave., Los Angeles, CA

https://artdecoapts.com/press/the-mauretania/

The Cedric Gibbons House

Built in the 1930s for actress Delores Del Rio by her husband, Oscar-winning art director Cedric Gibbons, this glamorous residence epitomizes streamline art deco in Los Angeles with its zigzag motifs and repetitive lines that carry through the windows, ceilings and nautical railings. Thanks to a series of attentive owners over the years, the home retains many of its prized architectural features and recently underwent a reverent renovation and expansion.

757 Kingman Ave., Santa Monica, CA

https://www.veranda.com/decorating-ideas/a1559/cedric-gibbons-house-tour/

Samuel-Novarro House

Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd Wright designed several Los Angeles residences at the intersection of art deco and Mayan revival. The 1928 Samuel-Novarro House in Los Feliz is one of the most impressive of the group, with its sleek concrete walls providing the perfect backdrop for intricately patterned oxidized copper trim. Built by silent film star Ramon Novarro for his manager and rumored lover, Louis Samuel, Novarro reclaimed the home after learning Samuel had been embezzling from him. Over the years, the residence has been owned by a star-studded cast, including Leonard Bernstein, Diane Keaton and Christina Ricci.

2255 Verde Oak Dr., Los Angeles, CA

https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/samuel-novarro-residence

Art Deco Walking Tours in Los Angeles

To learn more about these (and more) beautiful examples of art deco in Los Angeles, check out one of these fantastic walking tours.

The LA Conservancy Art Deco Walking Tour
The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles Tours
Santa Monica Conservancy Art Deco Walking Tour
Travel Curious LA’s Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture Private Walking Tour
The Creative Adventurer Free DTLA Art Deco Walking Tour (Self-Guided)

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NEON NIGHT WALKS

MONA’s knowledgeable tour guides weave light-filled tours through Los Angeles county neighborhoods. Limited to 15 participants, the walking tours are a way to see Los Angeles in a different light. Masked, socially-distanced participants will learn about the history of neon and local neighborhoods on a safe outdoor tour. Special online tour experiences will also be offered for those interested in exploring the city from home. MONA will lead hour-and-a-half long walking tours in Glendale, Koreatown, Hollywood, Downtown LA’s famous Broadway Theatre District, Chinatown, and more. Guests will be able to explore the areas’ architectural history, guided by the soothing glow of its neon signs.

The Neon Night Walks are inspired by MONA’s Neon Cruise, an iconic program MONA has been offering for 35 years which takes place on an open-top double-decker bus. Due to Covid-19 health concerns, the 2020 Neon Cruise season was canceled, giving MONA the opportunity to experiment with a shorter guided walks series. The walking tours will provide guests a unique opportunity to see our built environment through a more intimate neighborhood and community lens. Similar to MONA’s themed cruises, the walking tours will feature specially-themed walks, including a spooky Halloween tour, a festive Holiday neon wonderland walk, and more.

CLICK HERE to book your tour today!

NEON CRUISE®

JOIN US for a nighttime double-decker bus tour of historic neon signs and permanent installations of contemporary neon art through downtown Los Angeles and Hollywood!

Developed by MONA in 1985, the narrated tour departs from the Historic Corridor of downtown and points out neon’s historic and aesthetic dimensions, placing them firmly within the context of 20th-century Los Angeles cultural history.

From the classic movie marquees of downtown L.A.’s theater district, to the glittering lights of Hollywood, to the glowing pagodas of Chinatown, you will see innovative electrical advertising as well as outstanding examples of contemporary art on this award-winning tour.

Jump on board the upper deck of a convertible British bus and let your knowledgeable guide delight you with history and anecdotes from the urban electric jungle.

MEET THE GUIDES:

J. ERIC LYNXWILER (Classic Neon Cruise, Private Neon Cruise) is an L.A. native and long-time docent for the Los Angeles Conservancy and Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. As Board President for the Museum of Neon Art, he continues to celebrate LA’s neon heritage and guide the museum’s famed “Neon Cruise” — now in his eighteenth year! Lynxwiler researched the book “Wilshire Boulevard: Grand Concourse of Los Angeles” and co-authored “Knott’s Preserved: From Berry Stand to Theme Park, The History Of Knott’s Berry Farm” and “Spectacular Illumination: Los Angeles Neon 1925–1965.”

Cruise Highlights:

CHINATOWN GIFT FAIR CHINAWARE

The unassuming 1940s and 1950s set of neon signs are original to LA’s Chinatown and were added by various shopkeepers over the years, but were removed by a long-running tenant who donated the signs to the Museum of Neon Art. The duo was welcomed into the museum collection, but was only there for a few years until the building’s new owner restored the structure’s architectural and rooftop neon. With trust in the more neon-friendly owner, the museum de-accessioned the Gift Fair Chinaware neon signs and returned them to their original perches over Gin Ling Way in LA’s Chinatown.

CLIFTON’S FACADE

2015 brought neon lighting back to the restored façade of Clifton’s Cafeteria. It mimics the original neon pinstripes from the 1930s while also celebrating what turned out to be a historic discovery in the building’s basement – what could possibly be the world’s oldest operating neon tubes. Hidden behind a false wall and hardwired into the building’s electrical system, the secret neon tubes date to 1935 and have never been turned off in that time. The building’s owner plans to move the vintage tubes to a more public location.

LOS ANGELES THEATRE

Arguably the most grand theatre on the West coast is the namesake of the city, the Los Angeles Theatre. The ornate structure opened on the eve of the Great Depression in 1931 with a filigreed, neon vertical sign and matching, grand marquee. Over the years the marquee was replaced with a more streamlined, window-box-style sign with a prominent clock at it crux. The Broadway Theatre District has gone through its share of ups and downs, but the Los Angeles Theatre is still a grande dame and its neon vertical sign and marquee again shine brightly thanks to the 2004 restoration by the Museum of Neon Art and the City Redevelopment Agency.

HOLLYWOOD AND VINE RESTAURANT

The fancy Hollywood and Vine neon sign once promoted a restaurant within the Equitable Building, but that restaurant is now long gone. The modern neon with working clock and glittering stars once pronounced the word Diner, then Bar and now Lofts as its premier, promotional function changed with time. Don’t ignore the miniature, animated-neon Capitol Records building topping the sign.

FROLIC ROOM

One of the great bars from Hollywood’s Golden Age still haunts the corner of Hollywood near Vine in the 1930 Pantages Theatre building and its iconic neon sign has never burned more brightly. Stylistically, the design is a visual cacophony with multicolored neon tubes as a background for the streamlined lettering and boomerang design of its connected F and R. For those who believe that lettering cannot be art, we point to the Frolic Room’s amazing neon signage every time.

CLASSIC NEON CRUISE:

Saturday, May 20, 2023 Saturday, June 17, 2023 Saturday, June 24, 2023 Saturday, July 8, 2023 Saturday, July 22, 2023 Saturday, August 5, 2023 Saturday, August 19, 2023 Saturday, September 9, 2023 Saturday, September 23, 2023 Saturday, October 7, 2023

CLICK HERE to book today!

*In your shopping cart, please enter a CELL PHONE NUMBER where you can be reached on the evening of your cruise.

MONA MEMBER DISCOUNT:

Enter NEON at checkout for $10 off 1 Classic Neon Cruise Ticket. Enter ARGON at checkout for $10 off 2 Classic Neon Cruise Tickets. Enter NEONMERCURY at checkout for $10 off 3 Classic Neon Cruise Tickets. Enter HELIUM at checkout for $10 off 3 Classic Neon Cruise Ticket s. Enter KRYPTON at checkout for $10 off 4 Classic Neon Cruise Tickets. Please email [email protected] to redeem your 2 FREE PLASMA tickets or 4 FREE XENON tickets + unlimited member discount tickets.

All memberships will be verified.

Want to become a member? Click Here .

You will receive a reservation confirmation email from the museum with detailed instructions on the exact meeting location.

Cruises usually meet at 7:00PM in DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES and return around 10:30PM.

Due to limited seating on the bus, requests for cancellations or transfers must be made TWO weeks prior to the selected cruise date.

MONA reserves the right to cancel the tour due to insufficient ticket sales, in which case your ticket will be fully refunded.

MONA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, TO RESERVE BY PHONE, OR TO BOOK A PRIVATE TOUR CALL 818-696-2149

216 S. Brand Blvd. Glendale, CA 91204 818.696.2149 [email protected]

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Support generously provided by Los Angeles County Department of Arts & Culture. School Engagement programs are supported in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

10 Famous Los Angeles Landmarks That Are A Must Visit

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels: A modern Catholic church with stunning design elements and artwork.
Hollywood Walk of Fame: A must-visit attraction with thousands of stars honoring entertainment achievements.
Walt Disney Concert Hall: A beautiful architectural masterpiece that houses the LA Philharmonic.

Los Angeles is one of the most visited cities in the USA because of its iconic landmarks and attractions that are recognized worldwide. From Hollywood to Downtown LA, the City of Angels is home to unique architecture, entertainment history, and beautiful outdoor spaces.

There's a lot to see throughout California , but Los Angeles has something special. Whether travelers are visiting LA for the first time or are locals looking for a new adventure, add these ten famous Los Angeles landmarks to the itinerary.

Cathedral Of Our Lady Of The Angels

The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is a relatively new addition to LA's skyline, completed in 2002. But the modern Roman Catholic Church has already become a recognizable landmark downtown.

The cathedral was designed by renowned Spanish architect José Rafael Moneo and featured a contemporary geometric design with an angel theme. Inside, visitors are treated to tapestries, mosaics, paintings, statues, and the awe-inspiring nave.

The cathedral grounds include a mausoleum, gift shop, cafeteria, conference center, and gardens.

555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Opening Hours:

6:30 am to 6 pm

Related: 10 Five-Star-Rated Attractions For First-Timers Visiting Los Angeles

The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Every trip to LA begins with strolling along the iconic Hollywood Walk of Fame. Along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, the walk features more than 2,600 terrazzo and brass stars honoring achievements in entertainment.

Stars are awarded in five categories: motion pictures, television, audio recording, radio, and live theater/performance. Famous names are immortalized with stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney, and The Beatles.

Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA 90007

Opening Time:

24 hours every day

The Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall

A stunning architectural achievement, the Walt Disney Concert Hall has become a modern symbol of LA culture. The curved steel exterior designed by Frank Gehry houses state-of-the-art acoustics and seating explicitly designed for performances by the LA Philharmonic.

The building is in the LA Music Center, including the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theater, and Mark Taper Forum. Take a tour of the Music Center or enjoy a concert to experience this iconic LA venue fully.

111 S Grand, Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Time to Visit:

9 am to 5 pm

Related: LA Nights: 10 Things To Do In The City Of Angels After Dark

Los Angeles Theater

Visit the historic Los Angeles Theater movie palace downtown to glimpse LA's past. Opened in 1931, this extraordinary cinema was designed in the French Baroque style with ornate details. Marble staircases, gilded moldings, and crystal chandeliers contribute to its dazzling Art Deco opulence.

Though it no longer functions as a movie theater, the space hosts special events. Visitors can tour the theater to admire its style and imagine its glory days.

615 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014
Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm

Universal Studios Hollywood

While Disneyland may come to mind first, Universal Studios Hollywood was the first movie studio to open its doors to the public in 1964. Film fans can immerse themselves in the magic of movie-making at this working studio and theme park.

Ride thrill rides like Jurassic World and soar through the streets of Los Angeles on the Studio Tour for an insider's view of legendary sets. Visit the Walking Dead Attraction or explore the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608
9 am to 7 pm

Related: Run With Minions In Universal Studios Hollywood's First Ever 5K Race

The Hollywood Bowl

Nestled in a natural amphitheater in the Hollywood Hills, The Hollywood Bowl has been the LA summer home of the LA Philharmonic since 1922. This iconic venue also hosts famous musical artists and performances.

While the sound is unmatched, the setting under the stars surrounded by trees can't be beaten. Visitors can bring food for a picnic or grab dinner from on-site eateries. The Hollywood Bowl Museum exhibit is also worth exploring before the show.

2301 N Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Monday and Thursday, 10 am to 11 pm
Friday 10 am to 12 am
Saturday 9 am to 12 am
Sunday, 9 am to 12 pm

Bradbury Building

Science fiction author Ray Bradbury refers to this iconic 1893 office building on Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles. The stunning light-filled atrium features ornate cast iron railings, brick walls, and rickety caged elevators.

Movie buffs may recognize the building from its roles in films like Blade Runner and (500) Days of Summer. Visitors can see the atrium for free or take a guided tour to learn more about the architecture and history.

304 Broadway, Los Angeles
Tel: 23-626-1893

Hollywood Sign

LA's most famous landmark started as an advertisement for a real estate development called "Hollywoodland" in 1923. While the last four letters were removed in 1949, the 45-foot white letters spelling "Hollywood" on Mount Lee are now synonymous with the entertainment industry.

While protected by fences and security, there are many scenic spots throughout LA to snap photos of the iconic sign from a distance; the Griffith Observatory and Lake Hollywood Park are prime spots.

Mt. Lee, Griffith Park, Los Angeles, CA 90068

Related: Every Way You Can Get Up Close & Personal With The Hollywood Sign

Watts Towers

Watts Towers is a stunning folk art sculpture that tests the limits of imagination and determination. Created by Italian immigrant construction worker Simon Rodia, the collection of 17 interconnected sculptural towers covered in mosaics of glass, shell, pottery, and concrete was built from 1921 to 1954 solely by Rodia without scaffolding or engineers.

This National Historic Landmark in Watts examines how one man can create something extraordinary with passion and focus.

176 East, 107th Street, Los Angeles
Friday 11 am- 3 pm
Saturday 10:30 am- 3 pm
Sunday 12:30 pm- 3 pm

Griffith Observatory And Griffith Park

Crowning the hills of LA with an impressive Art Deco-style building, Griffith Observatory is free , and there are many things visitors can see to contemplate the cosmos and cityscape. Check out the Samuel Oschin Planetarium, space science, innovation exhibits, and sweeping views from the terrace.

The Observatory is surrounded by the huge Griffith Park—over 4,000 acres of hiking trails, picnic grounds, golf courses, museums, and the iconic Greek Theater performance space. Enjoy a free day exploring this LA green space and landmark.

2800 East Observatory Road
Open daily from 5 am to 10:30 pm

The best Los Angeles landmarks are iconic in the media, but they're also interesting to see up close and personal while traveling through California.

10 Famous Los Angeles Landmarks That Are A Must Visit

LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio, a member-supported public media network.

From Hotel Rooms To Art Deco Icon: How City Hall Evolved Into That Big Downtown Tower

Vintage postcard in color depicting the State Building, Hall of Records, Hall of Justice, and City Hall in the Civic Center. The card shows a blue cloudy sky and sunny tan buildings. On the right, City Hall towers above the other buildings.

The early days

Under one roof, explosive growth, other city halls.

Los Angeles City Hall is a massive, iconic edifice in downtown, but that wasn’t always the case.

Over the decades, the place where the sausage gets made has evolved, from small rooms to today’s multi-million dollar tower.

When the city of L.A. incorporated in 1850, it was a bit of a scrappy effort. There were fewer than 2,000 residents , and not nearly as high of a demand for services like we have today.

At the time, there were no city buildings yet. So city employees rented hotel rooms and other spaces for their “office.”

But once those lovely taxes rolled in, officials were keen to set up a more permanent City Hall. From 1853 to 1861, officials rented an adobe house on Spring Street (across the street from the current City Hall) to be its base of operations. For a short stint after, it was the former downtown L.A. Times building (though they came after).

But ultimately, officials went back to the adobe and stayed there for more than 20 years.

It was there until 1888, when city leaders moved into a tall building on South Broadway. This Romanesque Revival Building, accented with marble, red sandstone and terracotta, was a turning point.

A black and white archive photo of an old public building. It has multiple stories and has designed arches and corners as accents

The size allowed the city to have most of its municipal departments under the same roof for the first time. The City Council regularly met there, and even the public library service worked out of it.

City employees worked there for the next 40 years, but by the 1920s, there was a big need for space. The city was rapidly growing and more room was needed to accommodate the people making L.A. run.

Between 1925 and 1928, designers John Parkinson, John Austin and Albert Martin worked on a new building. They wanted to emphasize how central L.A. was to the rest of the state, so the concrete in City Hall was made with sand from each of California’s 58 counties and water from its 21 historical missions.

When it opened its doors in 1928, it was the tallest building in the city . (An ordinance at the time prohibited new buildings from going past 150 feet, but that was overturned a few decades later.) At its opening, there was a big celebration.

The event included a special moment from the White House. On April 26, 1928, then-President Calvin Coolidge turned on the Lindbergh Beacon atop City Hall. But he wasn’t physically present. Instead he did it remotely from Washington, D.C. — via telegraph.

In all, L.A has four city hall spaces , and three are sometimes called neighborhood city halls.

There’s the main one in downtown, then San Pedro, Van Nuys and the Westside on Sawtelle Boulevard.

A black and white archive image of a single building on a road. On either side there are lower sections, with a tower tower extending from the middle.

These satellites, which are at different ends of the city, can serve as a meeting spot, especially when there’s a specific desire to hear from constituents in a particular part of L.A. For example, some of the governance reform committee public meetings were held in Van Nuys City Hall.

While the main City Hall chambers you see on TV are in downtown, a lot of important city business happens elsewhere. These locations can house municipal services, like how the Westside satellite has an office of finance.

WEATHER ALERT Heat Advisory Full Story
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Lily Gladstone balances heart, family, humor in 'Fancy Dance,' story of missing Indigenous woman

HOLLYWOOD (KABC) -- This year has already been quite a year for actress Lily Gladstone. She was in the thick of the Oscar race for her work in "Killers of the Flower Moon." She then co-starred in the Hulu series, "Under the Bridge." Now, she returns with a third project... "Fancy Dance."

In "Fancy Dance," Gladstone plays Jax, a woman who is caring for her teenage niece, Roki. Jax's sister has been missing on the Seneca Cayuga Reservation in Oklahoma. The Feds won't take her disappearance seriously - a missing indigenous woman on the reservation doesn't seem to be a priority.

For Gladstone, it's important to tell stories that don't often get a lot of attention.

"I mean, before I had a film career, I was using arts as activism, seeing that there was this real place for performance art to help communities," said Gladstone. "One thing I love about cinema is you can watch it in community, or you can watch it alone and you're watching it from a very insider-out perspective. You're learning these things, while you're caring deeply about the characters. I'm thrilled that I get to apply what I love individually, my passion for performance and storytelling, can also have such a profound impact both emotionally and, you know, socially."

Filmmaker Erica Tremblay wrote the character of Jax expressly for Gladstone.

"I'm very grateful for the opportunity to tell a story about my community and my culture, to use my language, and amalgamations of people that I grew up with," said Tremblay.

Newcomer Isabel Deroy-Olson plays Roki. This is her first feature film. She says she learned a lot from Gladstone, both on and off camera.

"We have such a great friendship," said Deroy-Olson. "She's just the kindest person, and the most welcoming presence to have on set and that's something that I tried to emulate to the best of my abilities."

Gladstone let Isabel know she's doing a pretty good job with that!

"Fancy Dance" is in theaters now and will be released on Apple TV+ June 28.

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Tyler, the Creator cancels headlining gigs at Lollapalooza, Outside Lands. It’s not clear why

Tyler, the Creator, holding up one hand and pointing to the sky, on a stage made to look like a rocky desert landscape

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Tyler, the Creator is dropping out of headlining gigs at the Lollapalooza and Outside Lands music festivals later this summer, and his team is shedding no light on the situation.

Tyler, 33, was slated to headline both music festivals, which take place in early August. He apologized to fans Thursday in a post announcing his decision on X.

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“i made a commitment that i can no longer keep, and that bums me out knowing how excited folks were. that is not sexy at all,” he wrote. “please please forgive me or call me names when you see me in person. love.”

No other additional details were given on the reason behind his departure. Tyler’s representative told The Times there would be no further comment at this time.

A few minutes after Tyler’s announcement, Lollapalooza declared it would be a “Hot girl summer in Chicago” with Megan Thee Stallion taking over Tyler’s Aug. 1 spot.

Likewise, Outside Lands said rising star Sabrina Carpenter would fill in for Tyler Aug. 10 in San Francisco because he could no longer perform “due to personal reasons.”

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April 14, 2024

The announcement came a day after Tyler appeared onstage in Inglewood during Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show at the Forum. At the concert, which was tied to the Juneteenth holiday, Tyler performed “Earfquake” to a roaring crowd that loudly sang lyrics back to him.

“it was beautiful to see the whole city come together last night,” he wrote on X after the show. “my first raps were written at home off crenshaw dr and 82nd, right down the street” from the Forum.

In April, Tyler had headlining gigs on both Saturdays at the 2024 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival . He’s expected to return to the stage in October at the Austin City Limits Festival, where Chris Stapleton and Dua Lipa will headline on Friday and Saturday before Tyler’s Sunday headliner appearance.

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FILE - Travis Scott performs at Astroworld Festival at NRG park on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, in Houston. A judge has declined to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits filed against rap star Scott over his role in the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in which 10 people were killed in a crowd surge. State District Judge Kristen Hawkins issued a one-page order made public Wednesday, April 24, 2024, denying Scott’s request to be dropped from the case. (Jamaal Ellis/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)

Judge won’t dismiss Travis Scott from lawsuits filed over deadly Astroworld crowd crush

April 25, 2024

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Angie Orellana Hernandez is a 2023-24 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. She previously worked at The Times as an arts and entertainment intern. She graduated from USC, where she studied journalism and Spanish. Prior to joining The Times, she covered entertainment, as well as human interest, legal and crime stories at E! News. Her writing can also be found in USA Today, the Boston Globe, CNN and KCRA3.

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Free Walking Tour of the Beautiful Art Deco Streets of Downtown Los
Free Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour of the Amazing Art Deco Streets
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Free Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour of the Amazing Art Deco Streets
Taking a free walking tour of the Art Deco streets of downtown Los Angeles is a must-do experience for anyone who loves architecture and history. From the stunning facades to the intricate details, these buildings are a testament to the city's rich cultural heritage. TAGS: American Architecture, Architecture, Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Downtown ...
Tours
Art deco society of los angeles. P.O. Box 972 Hollywood, California 90078 310-659-3326 . [email protected] (the best way to contact us)
Art Deco
Walking Tour | Weekly. Art Deco. Saturday, June 15, 2024. 10:15 a.m. See more dates. Everyone knows that L.A. is a glamorous city. But few know that true Old Hollywood glamour lies in the streets of downtown L.A.! ... All participants in the Los Angeles Conservancy-sponsored Walking Tours knowingly and freely accept and assume all risks, both ...
Art Deco Society of Los Angeles
Art Deco Burbank & Glendale Bus Tour. Jun 28, 2024. Alex Theatre. ... SUPPORT THE ART DECO SOCIETY OF LOS ANGELES. The Art Deco Society of Los Angeles is still making up for fundraising losses during 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. Please consider making a donation to help us cover our preservation advocacy work and general expenses such as our ...
10 awe-inspiring Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles
The Selig building was named a city Historic-Cultural Monument in 1985. According to the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles, it is one of only two black-and-gold, glazed terra cotta Art Deco ...
Hollywood Boulevard Art Deco Architecture Walking Tour 2024
Back to All Events. Hollywood Boulevard Art Deco Architecture Walking Tour 2024. Saturday, March 23, 2024. 9:00 AM11:30 AM09:0011:30. Google CalendarICS. TICKETS. SOLD OUT. The tour is rain or shine. Tickets will go on sale first to members of the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles on Saturday, February 17 at 9:00 AM.
Walking Tours
Recurring Walking Tours. Our weekend tours are only $18 for members and $25 for the general public. Thank you for your support! Your purchase directly supports the Conservancy's mission to preserve the historic places in Los Angeles County. Check out our tour options below!
Art Deco & Beaux-Arts Architecture in Downtown LA
This tour stops by a few historic structures demonstrating late-nineteenth and early twentieth-century architectural styles. The art deco and Beaux-Arts styles were popular around the same time Los Angeles was coming into prominence, and as the motion picture industry took off in the city.
LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour
On your private tour, you will see glimmering marble columns, an art-deco library saved from demolition, Greek temples, and buildings designed to emulate the Paris exposition of 1925. You'll wander through the jewellery district and see one of LA's old movie theatre companies, which still evokes the feelings of 'Old Hollywood'.
Art Deco Society of Los Angeles
Join us for the return of the Art Deco Society's highly anticipated "Art Deco Hollywood" walking tour! Discover the birthplace of the film industry and experience the glamour and modernity that Hollywood Boulevard has to offer.As a microcosm of Los Angeles' post-World War I architectural boom, Hollywood Boulevard is an Art Deco lover's dream. The tour features the Mountain States Life Building ...
Art Deco touring in Downtown LA
Preview Steps. Download the app to get all the steps for this walk.. Step 1: Art Deco influenced the design of buildings, furniture, jewellery, fashion, cars, cinemas and everyday objects. Its name is short for Arts Décoratifs and it's essentially a mish-mash of styles. Step 2: It's a post-Cubist movement, which was high luxury at the time and includes, geometric patterns, bright colours ...
Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles and where to find them
The most beautiful Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles Step back into the '30s with a visit to these classy structures, the most beautiful Art Deco buildings in L.A. Written by
LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture
Begin your tour at the Los Angeles City Hall, an iconic building in the city used in the films industry many times due to its eclectic style; ... You will be meeting your guide for LA's Art Deco Architecture tour under the arches of Los Angeles City Hall main entrance, located at 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States. Please be ...
2024 (Los Angeles) LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private
Best in LA: Private, Full-Day, Guided Sightseeing Tour. 89. Full-day Tours. from. $899.00. per group (up to 6) Old and New Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour. 66. Historical Tours.
The 6 Most Stunning Art Deco Buildings in Los Angeles
At the time, it was the largest building in the United States. Now it is home to luxury lofts, with a pool on the roof underneath as its trademark clocktower. It is the most all encompassing example of the Art Deco style in Los Angeles. Eastern Columbia Building, 849 S Broadway St, Los Angeles, CA, USA, +1 213-478-0755.
Downtown LA Private Art Deco Architecture Tour 2024
Private Street Art Tour in Los Angeles. from $147.72. Price varies by group size. Los Angeles, California. Half-Day Sightseeing Tour of the Best of Los Angeles. 826. from $84.00. Los Angeles, California. Ghost Hunt Quest Experience in Hollywood.
Art Deco in Los Angeles: A Bridge Between Victorian and Modern
The Oviatt Building is widely considered the first art deco building in Los Angeles. It served as the headquarters of Alexander & Oviatt, one of the country's most prominent haberdasheries, and was topped by owner James Oviatt's sprawling penthouse, known as a second home to many of Hollywood's Golden Age stars.
Museum of Neon Art
MONA's knowledgeable tour guides weave light-filled tours through Los Angeles county neighborhoods. Limited to 15 participants, the walking tours are a way to see Los Angeles in a different light. ... Private Neon Cruise) is an L.A. native and long-time docent for the Los Angeles Conservancy and Art Deco Society of Los Angeles. As Board ...
632 S Cloverdale Ave APT 209, Los Angeles, CA 90036
632 S Cloverdale Ave APT 209, Los Angeles, CA 90036 is an apartment unit listed for rent at $1,575 /mo. The 375 Square Feet unit is a Studio, 1 bath apartment unit. View more property details, sales history, and Zestimate data on Zillow.
10 Famous Los Angeles Landmarks That Are A Must Visit
Crowning the hills of LA with an impressive Art Deco-style building, Griffith Observatory is free, and there are many things visitors can see to contemplate the cosmos and cityscape. Check out the ...
Art Deco Hollywood Walking Tour
Event in Los Angeles, CA by Art Deco Society of Los Angeles on Saturday, March 23 2024 with 196 people interested. Log In. Log In. Forgot Account? 23. SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2024 AT 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM PDT ... Hollywood Boulevard is an Art Deco lover's dream. The tour features the Mountain States Life Building/Yucca Tower, our latest Historical ...
Event Calendar
For the 40th year, the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles "digs up the dirt" on Hollywood history - including a few scandals - via a living history walking tour of the 124-year-old Hollywood Forever Cemetery at 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard. Visit the gravesites of early Hollywood stars, movie moguls, and the pioneers who shaped Los Angeles, to ...
From Hotel Rooms To Art Deco Icon: How City Hall Evolved Into ...
Los Angeles City Hall is a massive, iconic edifice in downtown, but that wasn't always the case. Over the decades, the place where the sausage gets made has evolved, from small rooms to today ...
Justin Timberlake addresses DWI arrest at Chicago tour stop
Justin Timberlake knows he's "hard to love" sometimes but thanked his fans in the Windy City on Friday for doing so anyway, addressing his recent arrest in the Hamptons and subsequent charge ...
1518 S Gramercy Pl, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Stunning modernized 1933 Art Deco masterpiece with residence, apartment, private offices, and chapel for creative/flex use. 7,200-square-foot building on a large 13,000-square-foot lot. The dramatic, inspiring blend of historic charm and modern convenience features an auditorium/assembly hall, banquet hall, multiple offices, residences, and ...
Oscar nominee Lily Gladstone brings heart, gravity ...
"Art as an extension of activism is a powerful thing." Lily Gladstone helps bring the story of missing indigenous women into the light in the new movie, "Fancy Dance."
Alan Jackson is 'hanging it up full time.' But first, a tour
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The Eagles are headed to the Las Vegas Sphere this fall
The Eagles are touching down in Las Vegas. The long-running rock band announced Thursday that it will play eight shows at Sphere, the $2-billion venue with the wraparound video screen just off the ...
Tickets
Lectures Tours Resources Jazz Age Dance Back About the ... Art deco society of los angeles. P.O. Box 972 Hollywood, California 90078 310-659-3326 . [email protected] (the best way to contact us) Info. Membership Events Resources Preservation. Action. Volunteer Contact Donate.
Tyler, the Creator cancels Lollapalooza, Outside Lands gigs
Angie Orellana Hernandez is a 2023-24 reporting fellow at the Los Angeles Times. She previously worked at The Times as an arts and entertainment intern. She graduated from USC, where she studied ...

Free Downtown Los Angeles Walking Tour of the Amazing Art Deco Streets

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Ninth and Broadway Building

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Fine Arts Building

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Art Deco & Beaux-Arts Architecture in Downtown LA

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LA's Art Deco & Beaux Art Architecture: Private Walking Tour Private Tour

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Art Deco touring in Downtown LA

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The most beautiful Art Deco buildings in Los Angeles

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Eastern Columbia Building

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One Bunker Hill

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